Stair-rod.



Patented 001s. 27, 1908. I Z'SHEBTS-SHEET l.,

W. G. AL'I'LAND.A I

STAIR ROD.

APPLIOATLQN FILED MAY 29, 190B.

" WWW j HQE- 5 mi@ @H w. G. ALTLAND.

STAIR EOD.

APPLIUATION FILED MumL 1908.

'902,461 Patented Oct; 27, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

K lUllI-IIII Walter lland,

witnesses anoznus nu; mmm: snm: cd., Musicman", n, c.

WALTER G. ALTLAND, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAIR-ROD.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application led May 29, 1908. Serial No. l135,604.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lauren G. ALTLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stair-Rods, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to stair-rods, utilized for the purpose of securing carpet, oilcloth and other covering material in posi lion upon stairs; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class which may be easily placed in position or removed as occasion may demand; which may be fitted to stairs of different widths; and which shall promote cleanliness and sanitation by leaving no corners or crevices in which dust and germs may settle, or where insects may thrive and breed.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of this class of devices.

lVith these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better' understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangementand combination of parts, which will ie hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention; it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,

but that changes, alterations and modifica tions within the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the d awingsr Figure 1 is a front elevation showing' the invention applied to a closed stairway. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, taken partly in horizontal section. 'Figa 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a front elevation illustrating; a slight modification of the invention whereby it is adapted to be used in connection with a stairway, one side of which is open. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the device, as shown in Fig. 4t, taken partly in horizontal section. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the block or fastening mem ber used in connection with the device as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The improved stair-rod is composed essentially of two parts or members 5 and 6, the former of which telescopes or slides longitudinally in the latter. The member 5 is a rod of triangular cross-section and of any desired length, and the member 6 may be described as being a tube, likewise of triangular cross-section to receive the rod 5 which is fitted snugly therein althoughin such a manner as to be capable of sliding freely, as stated. The tubular member 6 is closed at one end and is provided with a sharp pointed nipple or projection 7; and a coiled spring S, is interposed between the closed end of the tube 6 and the inner end of the rod 5, which latter will thus be forced in an outward direction. The outer extremity of the rod 5 is provided with a sharp pointed nipple or projection 9, and upon the face of said rod, adjacent toits outer end there is formed or secured a lug or stud 10, the outer side of which has a notch or recess 11 adapted tc be engaged by a suitable tool for the purpose of manipulating the rod The cross sectional contour of the improved stair-rod is preferably that of a rightangled isosceles triangle, thus enabling it to fit in the angle formed between the step 12 and the riser 18 of a stairway of ordinary construction, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The inner closed end of the tubular member 6, is preferably provided with a flange 14, and a similar flange 15 is formed upon the rod 5 at the outer extremity of the latter.

1n practice the members 5 and 6 are assembled, the spring 8 having been previously inserted into the tubular member 6. After placing the carpet or stair covering 16 in position, the nipple or projection 7, at the inner end of the member 6, is forced into the washboard 17 at one side of the stairway, as closely as possible to the corner formed by the angle between the stair step and the rising; the rod 5 is now forced into the tubular member 6 against the tension of the spring 8, until the nipple or projection 9 at the outer end of said rod may be forced into the washboard at the opposite side of the stairway, where it will be held securely by the expansive force of the spring 8, thus holding the carpet or stair covering securely in position.

The manner of stretching the carpet and of applying successive stair-rods will be readily understood.

The flanges 111 and 15 at the terminal ends of the members 6 and 5 will enable a hammer or suitable tool to be used for, the purpose of forcing the nipples or projections 7 and 9 into the washboar'ds at the sides of the stairs; when said washboards areJ made of other material than wood, such `as stone or metal, it may be found necessary to t'orm recesses or socket bearings for the reception of said nipples, as will be readily understood. l

When the invention is to be used in connection with a so-called open stairway, one or both sides of which are unprovided with washboards or members for the reception of the nipples 7 and 9, it may be found vnecessary to resort to the slight modification illustrated .in Figs. 4 and 6, where 17 designates a triangularv block adapted to be secured in position upon the stairway by means .of a fastening member such as a bolt or screw 18 extending through an aperture 19, in said block; the latter being provided in one of its faces with a recess or socket 2O for the reception of one ot the nipples. In Figs. L and 5, the block 17 has been shown in connection with the outer end of the stair-rod 20, where it is obvious that a similar block may be used in connection with the other end, whenever necessitated by the construction of the stairway.

For the purpose of manipulating or adjusting the improved stair-rod a suitable tool may be provided, or any tool may be used that is adapted to engage the notch 11, in the lug 10, of the rod 5, 'for the purposevof forcing said rod back against the tension of the spring 8; such operating tool, however, does not form a part of this invention.

Owing to its peculiar shape or contour, the improved stair-rod will completely fill the corner or angle between the stair and the riser of the stairway, leaving no corners or crevices in which dust or germs may accumulate; it being further obvious from the peculiar shape of the device that it will greatly facilitate the operation ofl vsweeping and enabling the same to becarried out in a very thorough and efficient manner. The improved stair-rod kmay be readily fitted to inner end of the rod, and nipplesor projections at the closed end of the tubular member and attheouter end of the rod.

2. In a deviceof the character described, a

tubular member triangular in cross-section,

closed 1at one end yand provided with a projecting nipple and with a flange adjacent lto said closed end; an expansion spring in said tubular member, and a rod triangular in cross-section-telescoping in the tubular member, said rod being provided at its outer end with a flange and with a nipple or projec tion.

3. In a device of. the character described, a tubular member provided at its closed end with aflange and with an outwardly extendingnipple, an expansion spring in said tubular member, and a rod telescoping in the tubular member and provided adjacent to its outer end with a lug or projection, a flange, and an outwardly extending nipple; in combination with a block having a nipple receivingl recess in one of its faces, and means for securing the block in position.

et. In a device of the character described, a

tubular mem-ber, and a spring actuated rod telescoping in the tubular member and having adjacent to its outer end a lug or projection provided with a notch forming a toolseat in its outer side; said tubular member and rod being `provided at their terminal ends with outwardly extending nipples.

In testimony whereofI aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VALTER G. ALTLAND.

litnesses i DONALD H. Yos'r, JACOB E. NTEAVER. 

